Geography

The Gambia covers an area of 4,127 square miles (10,689 square kilometers). The nation has an unusual shape. It is extremely narrow, reaching only 30 miles (48 kilometers) at its widest point. The country extends inland for about 295 miles (475 kilometers). Except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, it is surrounded by Senegal.

The Gambia River, which runs through the middle of the country, dominates the landscape. This river is notable because it is one of the most navigable waterways in Africa. Along the winding Gambia River are swamps where rice is grown and cattle graze. Farther away from the river the soil is sandy and is used for raising peanuts.

Plants and animals

The Gambia is covered mainly with savanna (grassland with scattered trees). A wide variety of trees thrive along the Gambia River. The most notable of these are mangroves, oil palms, cedars, and mahogany trees. Rubber vines are also common.

The Gambia is home to leopards, wild boars, monkeys, and antelopes. Crocodiles and hippopotamuses live in the river. The narrow strips of forests near the river are a haven for more than 400 kinds of birds.

People and culture

For such a small nation, The Gambia has a diverse population. The country is home to more than a dozen ethnic groups. The largest group is the Malinke (or Mandingo), who make up more than one third of the population. The Wolof, Fulani, Diola, and Soninke people are other important ethnic groups in The Gambia. The official language is English, but Wolof and Mandingo are the most widely spoken languages. More than 90 percent of the population is Muslim.

The Gambia is well known for its vibrant musical culture. One of the country's musical traditions is praise singing. Most of the ethnic groups in The Gambia have praise songs that honor important people in the group's history. Much of the country's music features drums and complex stringed instruments known as koras.

Economy

The great majority of Gambians are farmers who live off the food they grow. Family farms usually produce peanuts, sorghum, corn, millet, and rice. Cassava and various fruits and vegetables are also grown.

The Gambia's most important exports are peanuts, peanut oil, palm kernels, and fish. Industry is largely confined to plants that process peanuts. No minerals have been discovered to supplement these very limited sources of income. Tourism contributes greatly to the economy.

History

People began settling in the area that is now The Gambia in about the 13th century. Among them were the Malinke and the Wolof. Over time these people established kingdoms along the banks of the Gambia River.

The first Europeans in the region were the Portuguese, who arrived in the mid-15th century. Soon Europeans built forts along the river and began trading with the local population. In the 18th century France and Britain struggled for dominance of the river. Britain finally took control of the region in the late 18th century.

By this time The Gambia was a major source of slaves for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. In the early 1800s Britain abolished slavery. In 1816 the British founded the fort of Bathurst (later Banjul), at the mouth of the Gambia River to block the continuing slave trade. In 1894 the British established a protectorate over the region. Bathurst and the nearby area were governed as a colony until The Gambia achieved independence in 1965. It became a republic in 1970.

The first president of The Gambia was Sir Dawda Jawara. In 1981 an attempted military overthrow of Jawara was crushed with the help of Senegal. Later that year The Gambia and Senegal joined together to form the confederation of Senegambia. The limited union ended in 1989. A military coup led by Capt. Yahya Jammeh ousted Jawara's government in 1994. Multiparty elections were reinstated in 1996 and won by Jammeh. The Gambia has long been considered one of the most stable nations in Africa. Population (2001 estimate), 1,411,000.